The 23rd psalm has become America’s Psalm.
Popular at the funerals of presidents and movie stars, I would guess that this psalm appeared in some form at the funeral of someone you knew and have loved.
This workhorse of a psalm appears in gift shops, churches, synagogues, and in popular culture. In the movie “Titanic,” the priest reads this psalm as the ship sinks.
The theme of the psalm is comfort. It offers images of calming, still waters, green pastures, and a god who is completely on our side.
While Christians see Jesus as the Good Shepherd of the psalm, it is important to honor its Jewish roots and remember that it is a song written a thousand years before Jesus, by his ancestor, the great king, David.
I have read this piece of Scripture hundreds of times, if not more, so imagine my surprise when I found something in it that I had never seen before, something that not only gave me great comfort but that pretty much convinced me that the psalmist – and God—has a sense of humor.
I read this phrase somewhere last week and am totally convinced of its truth: “On any given Sunday, some people come to church to have their souls restored — to get their lives back.”
If you are one of these people (and I am for sure) or if you might like to learn how God can understand what you need even in the midst of an argument – stop by church on Sunday and hear about America’s Psalm.
You’ll learn stuff. You’ll be comforted, I think, and maybe even laugh. There’s music, air conditioning, and you’ll be fed, too.
See you there.
Barbara
